“If you Build it, They Will Come”: The story of a university, a non-profit agency, a drop-in counselling clinic and a field of dreamsCatherine de Boer, Associate Professor, School of Social Work

The School of Social Work at Memorial University and the St. John’s Status of Women Council partnered in the development and evaluation of a drop-in counselling clinic housed within the Women’s Centre in St. John’s, NL. This clinic is the first in Canada specifically designed to meet the mental health needs of women using a feminist and trauma-informed approach. But the clinic wasn’t all that was constructed! The flourishing relationship between the university and community cultivated this field of dreams.

The Real Ministers of Health: Your City CouncilCatherine Donovan, Associate Professor, Public Health, Community Health & Humanities, Faculty of Medicine

This presentation will discuss how health and wellness really happen in the community and not the healthcare system. It will describe some of the features of a health promoting community and we will talk about how the policies and programs set by your community council impact the ability of individuals and communities to be healthy.

Patterns of Arts Support in Newfoundland and LabradorJennifer Dyer, Associate Professor and Interim Head, Department of Gender Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dr. Dyer conducts research on (amongst other things) the social value of art, strategic philanthropy, Newfoundland painting, the metaphysics of light, and philosophical aesthetics generally. Her most recent research about the arts in Newfoundland is about Patterns of Arts Support in Newfoundland and Labrador, the role of light in Newfoundland’s regional ecoaesthetic, and narratives of illumination in Newfoundland painting.

M’Apping the East Coast TrailShannon Lewis-Simpson, Community Engaged Learning Coordinator, Student Life

Over 30 students and faculty from 8 programmes have worked with the East Coast Trail Association to update the mapping system for different users, and create a mobile app. We’ll talk about how projects such as this are great for building capacity in community and students.

Reforming Democracy in Newfoundland and LabradorAlex Marland, Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

The provincial government has promised to create an All-Party Committee on Democratic Reform. What should the Members of the House Assembly on that committee do? An editor of The Democracy Cookbook: Recipes to Renew Governance in Newfoundland and Labrador (ISER Books) shares opinions.

Retention and Integration of Refugees in Newfoundland and LabradorKerri Neil, Research Assistant, Jarislowsky Chair of Cultural and Economic Transformation, Memorial University

The potential demographic and economic benefits of refugee settlement in the province cannot be realized if refugees come but then choose to leave.This study examines experiences of refugees that have settled in Newfoundland and Labrador and analyzes factors that can potentially enhance refugee integration and factors that can negatively impact their settlement experiences and retention in the province.

Addressing Islamophobia in Newfoundland and LabradorJennifer Selby, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies and Affiliate Member of the Department of Gender Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Addressing Islamophobia in NL engages our local community to respond to Islamophobia and xenophobic discrimination. We understand Islamophobia as an irrational fear and hatred of Islam and Muslims (and those perceived as Muslim) that translates into everyday individual, ideological, and systemic forms of oppression, including racism and xenophobia. With consultations in October 2017 and a conference for NL service providers, educators, and advocates in September 2018, the project aims to address Islamophobia as it supports individuals who have or may experience anti-Muslim discrimination.

Tourism and the Future of Rural Coastal CommunitiesMark CJ Stoddart, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Tourism is increasingly seen as an important strategy for economic and community development for rural coastal communities. Yet, the potential benefits of tourism are not always realized by host communities. This research answers three key questions: 1) What are the main features that draw tourists rural coastal communities in NL? 2) What are the main benefits of tourism development for host communities? And 3) What are the key challenges that need to be navigated in order to successfully leverage tourism development for community wellbeing?

Bad Energy Governance and Why the Political Executive Remains the Core ProblemStephen Tomblin, Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

In an era of fiscal crisis, and an ongoing “democratic deficit problem” there is an ongoing struggle and effort to better understand the factors that led to knowledge gaps and bad decisions. The focus of my presentation is how the power and autonomy of the executive branch contributed in a significant way to these bad outcomes, yet is still not receiving the kind of attention it should. My presentation will discuss the challenges of political control over energy decision-making in recent times and why this remains a critical problem.